HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:
Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 32/4/881    most recent 0363546503261711v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (8) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Weiler, A. Articles by Haas, N. P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Weiler, A. Articles by Haas, N. P. Related Collections Reconstruction Animal studies Biomechanics Histology

The Influence of Locally Applied Platelet-Derived Growth Factor–BB on Free Tendon Graft Remodeling After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Andreas Weiler^*,, Cornelius Förster, Patrick Hunt, Roman Falk, Tobias Jung, Frank N. Unterhauser, Volker Bergmann, Gerhard Schmidmaier and Norbert P. Haas

From Sports Traumatology & Arthroscopy Service, Trauma & Reconstructive Surgery, Charité, Humboldt-University of Berlin, Germany, the Department of Trauma & Reconstructive Surgery, University of Rostock, Germany, and the Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Free University of Berlin, Germany

^* Address correspondence to Andreas Weiler, Sports Traumatology & Arthroscopy Service, Trauma & Reconstructive Surgery, Charité, Humboldt-University Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany (e-mail: andreas.weiler{at}charite.de).

Background: Ligaments and tendons do not gain mechanical properties of the native tissue after injury or grafting.

Purpose: To determine the influence of platelet-derived growth factor on tendon graft remodeling.

Study Design: Laboratory animal study.

Methods: Forty-eight sheep underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and were sacrificed after 3, 6, 12, and 24 weeks. In 6 animals at each time point, platelet-derived growth factor was locally delivered via coated sutures. After mechanical testing, tissue samples were taken for histologic, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopy evaluations.

Results: With platelet-derived growth factor treatment, cross-sectional area was significantly lower at 3 and 12 weeks. Load to failure was significantly higher at 6 weeks. Tensile stress was significantly higher at 3 and 12 weeks. Crimp length was significantly higher at 3 and 6 weeks. Vascular density was significantly higher at 6 weeks. Electron microscopy showed a significantly higher collagen fibril amount at 12 weeks. Differences in these parameters at other time points were not significant.

Conclusions: There were alterations in several but not all time points. The local application of platelet-derived growth factor alters the tissue’s mechanical properties during free tendon graft remodeling after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Growth factors present a promising tool toward the complete mechanical restitution of a healing ligament substitute.

Key Words: anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) • tendon graft • remodeling • growth factors • animal model

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. D. Beynnon, R. J. Johnson, J. A. Abate, B. C. Fleming, and C. E. Nichols Treatment of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries, Part 2 Am. J. Sports Med., November 1, 2005; 33(11): 1751 - 1767. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. Kilicoglu, O. Koyuncu, M. Demirhan, C. Z. Esenyel, A. C. Atalar, S. Ozsoy, E. Bozdag, E. Sunbuloglu, and B. Bilgic Time-Dependent Changes in Failure Loads of 3 Biceps Tenodesis Techniques: In Vivo Study in a Sheep Model Am. J. Sports Med., October 1, 2005; 33(10): 1536 - 1544. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]